Bonnie M. Callahan Director and Founder About the Director Bonnie Callahan has been teaching dance and choreographing throughout the East Coast for nearly 20 years.  She is a graduate of New World School of the Arts with an emphasis in musical theater.  She received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Southern Connecticut State University, as well as a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh.   Bonnie has guided her students to such notable achievements as scholarships to the School of American Ballet, The Royal Academy of Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet.  Her students have also performed in On- and Off-Broadway shows, the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and at the White House for President Clinton.  Bonnie has successfully directed several  award winning dance companies and has received several choreography and outstanding studio awards.  In addition to her extensive dance experience, Bonnie holds a Florida Teaching Certificate and enjoys spending time with her husband Chris and their three daughters Bailey, McKenzie and Chloe.

Karen Dowdell, Instructor Acro, Jazz, Tap Josephine Hughes, Instructor Ballet, Lyrical, Pointe Josephine Hughes studied dance in England including the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Syllabus during which time she also danced professionally.  After graduation, she performed around the world and had great experiences in India, Turkey, Syria, and Spain.  Her teacher training was with the Association of American Dance and has continued her training by attending workshops and master classes annually to keep up with the changing styles and techniques.  Josephine is certified in each discipline and is a member of Florida Dance Masters (FDM). While in California, Josephine taught at 2 studios, as well as supervising the Air Force  Base dance program and for the past 15 ½ years she taught at Brevard Dance Academy in Indian Harbour Beach. Josephine was a judge at the Brevard County Dance Competition and last year for Dance Masters of America. She has been the Special Awards Judge at the Rochester Invitational in New York and a guest teacher for FDM. In her spare time she choreographs and participates in musicals at her Church to raise money for charity. Her creative and entertaining choreography has won many awards during her 30 years of teaching. Josephine, husband Charlie and daughter, Melissa, (when she is home from the University of South Florida) love to go jet skiing for relaxation and fun.   Cheryl Dodd, Instructor Jazz, Tap When Cheryl starting assisting dance classes at the age of 12, she immediately knew that teaching was what she wanted to do with her life. At the age of 18, she opened the Rochester Academy of Dance Arts in Rochester, New York. Within 3 years Cheryl had 3 locations and over 500 students. Cheryl was a much sought after choreographer and was commissioned to choreograph the newest hit single for the television tour of the famous singing group, the Fifth Dimension. After owning the studio for 15 years, Cheryl moved to Florida and opened the Brevard Dance Academy in Indian Harbour Beach. As a member of Florida Dance Masters, Cheryl was appointed the Central East director and taught master classes for FDM all over the state of Florida. On the weekends she toured as a judge with Star Systems national dance competition. She has judged all over the country for many dance organizations and currently is in her 34th year of owning and directing the Rochester Invitational dance competition held in Rochester, NY each spring. Five years ago, Cheryl started the Florida Invitational dance competition that has brought in studios from all over Florida. She is hoping to build it to be as prestigious as the NY competition is. Cheryl has had many national champion dancers and currently has past students dancing professionally in Washington DC, New York City, and Las Vegas. After owning the studio for 20 years, she sold her studio and became part of the VDC family.    Cheryl is the attendance clerk at Viera High School days and teaches at VDC in the evenings. She is very proud of her 3 children; Jeff (deputy chief of police of Satellite Beach), Shayne (life management teacher with Florida Virtual School), and Casey (a percussionist currently performing all over Brevard). Cheryl has 2 granddaughters dancing at VDC now with the 3rd starting this summer. To be watching the 3rd generation of her family, dancing their hearts out, fulfills yet another dream.   Amber Lyons, Instructor Tap, Secretary   Mikki Wingerter, Instructor Improv, Lyrical      Destiny Jazz, Instructor Voice, Piano   Destiny is a professional musician with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Florida in Music Performance, with focus on voice, piano, and percussion.  She has been a pianist and vocalist nearly twenty years and has studied classical, jazz, and pop styles and is certified in piano pedagogy.  As a vocalist she has classical training as well as musical theater experience and has had the privilege of touring the United States and Portugal.   Destiny has recently performed at Carnegie Hall and has relocated from New York City to the Space Coast.  She performs as a jazz vocalist weekly at several venues in Melbourne and Palm Bay, as well as performing in Orlando with her own folk rock duo.  As a former dancer and nanny she loves children and all things dance and is excited to be part of the Viera Dance Conservatory!   Danny Torres, Instructor Hip Hop Daniel “DannyD” Torres started dancing when he was 15 years old on the Colonial High School competition dance team in Orlando, Florida. He continued on to become the Captain of the All boys dance team and All boys step team. With a focus on several styles of hip hop he first began teaching professionally upon graduation from high school. Throughout the years following he continued his training in several classes, conventions and through his own instructing experience. He has choreographed for several shows in the Central Florida area including Mr & Ms UCF 2010 scholarship pageants, Asst. Choreographer for the Singing Christmas trees 2009, choreographer for the National dance association 2009, Jingle Bell Rock Showcase 2007 among several others.   Bailey Callahan, Instructor Ballet, Tap, Acro       Kim Dowdell, Instructor Hip Hop